Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Dillon County had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 46 counties in 2023, at 29.2%. York County had the lowest, at 8.9%. The median was 17.2% and the figure for South Carolina was 14.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29.2Dillon County
Lowest8.9York County
Median17.246 counties
South Carolina14.2History

Map of counties, 2023

Abbeville County: 14.1 %Aiken County: 13.9 %Allendale County: 26.5 %Anderson County: 14.4 %Bamberg County: 21.6 %Barnwell County: 28.5 %Beaufort County: 10.5 %Berkeley County: 10.3 %Calhoun County: 16.3 %Charleston County: 11.6 %Cherokee County: 18.5 %Chester County: 19.3 %Chesterfield County: 20.2 %Clarendon County: 18.6 %Colleton County: 18.7 %Darlington County: 20.3 %Dillon County: 29.2 %Dorchester County: 11.5 %Edgefield County: 16.4 %Fairfield County: 16.9 %Florence County: 18.3 %Georgetown County: 14.4 %Greenville County: 11 %Greenwood County: 17.1 %Hampton County: 20 %Horry County: 12.8 %Jasper County: 18.3 %Kershaw County: 14.1 %Lancaster County: 12.3 %Laurens County: 17.7 %Lee County: 23.3 %Lexington County: 11.4 %McCormick County: 18 %Marion County: 27.3 %Marlboro County: 26.2 %Newberry County: 16 %Oconee County: 16.4 %Orangeburg County: 23.9 %Pickens County: 17.2 %Richland County: 16.9 %Saluda County: 19.4 %Spartanburg County: 14.5 %Sumter County: 16.4 %Union County: 22.7 %Williamsburg County: 23.6 %York County: 8.9 %
  • Under 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 to 17
  • 17 to 19
  • 19 to 23
  • 23 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2023

Dillon County: 29.2 %Dillon County29.2Barnwell County: 28.5 %Barnwell County28.5Marion County: 27.3 %Marion County27.3Allendale County: 26.5 %Allendale County26.5Marlboro County: 26.2 %Marlboro County26.2Orangeburg County: 23.9 %Orangeburg County23.9Williamsburg County: 23.6 %Williamsburg County23.6Lee County: 23.3 %Lee County23.3Union County: 22.7 %Union County22.7Bamberg County: 21.6 %Bamberg County21.6Darlington County: 20.3 %Darlington County20.3Chesterfield County: 20.2 %Chesterfield County20.2Hampton County: 20 %Hampton County20Saluda County: 19.4 %Saluda County19.4Chester County: 19.3 %Chester County19.3Colleton County: 18.7 %Colleton County18.7Clarendon County: 18.6 %Clarendon County18.6Cherokee County: 18.5 %Cherokee County18.5Jasper County: 18.3 %Jasper County18.3Florence County: 18.3 %Florence County18.3McCormick County: 18 %McCormick County18Laurens County: 17.7 %Laurens County17.7Pickens County: 17.2 %Pickens County17.2Greenwood County: 17.1 %Greenwood County17.1Fairfield County: 16.9 %Fairfield County16.9Richland County: 16.9 %Richland County16.9Edgefield County: 16.4 %Edgefield County16.4Oconee County: 16.4 %Oconee County16.4Sumter County: 16.4 %Sumter County16.4Calhoun County: 16.3 %Calhoun County16.3Newberry County: 16 %Newberry County16Spartanburg County: 14.5 %Spartanburg County14.5Georgetown County: 14.4 %Georgetown County14.4Anderson County: 14.4 %Anderson County14.4Abbeville County: 14.1 %Abbeville County14.1Kershaw County: 14.1 %Kershaw County14.1Aiken County: 13.9 %Aiken County13.9Horry County: 12.8 %Horry County12.8Lancaster County: 12.3 %Lancaster County12.3Charleston County: 11.6 %Charleston County11.6Dorchester County: 11.5 %Dorchester County11.5Lexington County: 11.4 %Lexington County11.4Greenville County: 11 %Greenville County11Beaufort County: 10.5 %Beaufort County10.5Berkeley County: 10.3 %Berkeley County10.3York County: 8.9 %York County8.9Dillon County: 29.2 %Dillon County29.2Barnwell County: 28.5 %Barnwell County28.5Marion County: 27.3 %Marion County27.3Allendale County: 26.5 %Allendale County26.5Marlboro County: 26.2 %Marlboro County26.2Orangeburg County: 23.9 %Orangeburg County23.9Williamsburg County: 23.6 %Williamsburg County23.6Lee County: 23.3 %Lee County23.3Union County: 22.7 %Union County22.7Bamberg County: 21.6 %Bamberg County21.6Darlington County: 20.3 %Darlington County20.3Chesterfield County: 20.2 %Chesterfield County20.2Hampton County: 20 %Hampton County20Saluda County: 19.4 %Saluda County19.4Chester County: 19.3 %Chester County19.3Colleton County: 18.7 %Colleton County18.7Clarendon County: 18.6 %Clarendon County18.6Cherokee County: 18.5 %Cherokee County18.5Jasper County: 18.3 %Jasper County18.3Florence County: 18.3 %Florence County18.3McCormick County: 18 %McCormick County18Laurens County: 17.7 %Laurens County17.7Pickens County: 17.2 %Pickens County17.2Greenwood County: 17.1 %Greenwood County17.1Fairfield County: 16.9 %Fairfield County16.9Richland County: 16.9 %Richland County16.9Edgefield County: 16.4 %Edgefield County16.4Oconee County: 16.4 %Oconee County16.4Sumter County: 16.4 %Sumter County16.4Calhoun County: 16.3 %Calhoun County16.3Newberry County: 16 %Newberry County16Spartanburg County: 14.5 %Spartanburg County14.5Georgetown County: 14.4 %Georgetown County14.4Anderson County: 14.4 %Anderson County14.4Abbeville County: 14.1 %Abbeville County14.1Kershaw County: 14.1 %Kershaw County14.1Aiken County: 13.9 %Aiken County13.9Horry County: 12.8 %Horry County12.8Lancaster County: 12.3 %Lancaster County12.3Charleston County: 11.6 %Charleston County11.6Dorchester County: 11.5 %Dorchester County11.5Lexington County: 11.4 %Lexington County11.4Greenville County: 11 %Greenville County11Beaufort County: 10.5 %Beaufort County10.5Berkeley County: 10.3 %Berkeley County10.3York County: 8.9 %York County8.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Dillon County29.2-2.4 pts
2Barnwell County28.5+3.2 pts
3Marion County27.3-0.1 pts
4Allendale County26.5-0.7 pts
5Marlboro County26.2-1.7 pts
6Orangeburg County23.9-1.1 pts
7Williamsburg County23.6+0.1 pts
8Lee County23.3-4.5 pts
9Union County22.7+1.7 pts
10Bamberg County21.6-0.7 pts
11Darlington County20.3+0.1 pts
12Chesterfield County20.2-0.2 pts
13Hampton County20+0.1 pts
14Saluda County19.4+1.5 pts
15Chester County19.3+0.4 pts
16Colleton County18.7+2.1 pts
17Clarendon County18.6-1 pts
18Cherokee County18.5+0.5 pts
19Jasper County18.3+0.4 pts
20Florence County18.3+0.5 pts
21McCormick County18+1.3 pts
22Laurens County17.7-1.2 pts
23Pickens County17.2+0.3 pts
24Greenwood County17.1-0.2 pts
25Fairfield County16.9-1.8 pts
26Richland County16.9+0.1 pts
27Edgefield County16.4-0.5 pts
28Oconee County16.4+0.7 pts
29Sumter County16.4-0.1 pts
30Calhoun County16.3-2.4 pts
31Newberry County16+0.5 pts
32Spartanburg County14.5+0.1 pts
33Georgetown County14.4-1.6 pts
34Anderson County14.4+0.1 pts
35Abbeville County14.1-1.8 pts
36Kershaw County14.1-0.4 pts
37Aiken County13.9-0.3 pts
38Horry County12.8-0.3 pts
39Lancaster County12.3+0.2 pts
40Charleston County11.6-0.6 pts
41Dorchester County11.5-0.8 pts
42Lexington County11.4-0.2 pts
43Greenville County11+0.1 pts
44Beaufort County10.5+0.1 pts
45Berkeley County10.3-0.6 pts
46York County8.9+0.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_south_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in South Carolina by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/south-carolina-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Dillon County, with 29.2% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

York County, with 8.9% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Counties in South Carolina: more rankings